26 October 2007

-- JERUSALEM -- The United States has brought forward the planned sale of advanced warplanes to Israel as part of efforts by the two allies to maintain a military advantage over Iran, an Israeli newspaper reported yesterday.

Quoting unnamed defence officials, The Jerusalem Post said the Pentagon has agreed to supply the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Israel as early as 2012, when the U.S. air force is scheduled to receive the first of the supersonic radar-evading jets.

Like their Syrian neighbours, Iran is prepared to lie, cheat, steal and kill to get the bomb.

And while the rest of the world, mostly through the ineffectual protestations of the United Nations, has been willing to supply a shitload of carrot... it's obvious that what's really needed here... is "monster stick".

Israel, which is not among eight countries in partnership with Washington in producing the F-35 and had been expected to get the plane in 2014 or 2015, is building up its arsenal for a possible showdown with Iran.

Despite the government's insistence that U.S. and UN sanctions aren't causing any pain, some leading Iranians have begun to say publicly that the pressure does hurt. And on Tehran's streets, people are increasingly worried over the economic pinch.

Mr. Ahmadinejad and his allies are likely counting on sanctions to rally Iranians against the United States.

“Hard-liners in Tehran were looking forward for the sanctions. It helps them hide their incompetence behind the embargo,” said political commentator Saeed Laylaz.